OnePlus 6 Complete Review

DESIGN

The first thing you notice when you pick up the OnePlus 6 is that it’s different from the company’s previous flagships, as it boasts a glass front and rear panel, instead of the all-metal case that the company makes with OnePlus 3.

This glass Corning Gorilla Glass 5 in front and behind, with additional protection and, we hope, break it up is not easy – but from the fact that the metal does not break, there’s nowhere to go. For those who often drop a smartphone, the good news is that OnePlus completes the smartphone with a transparent silicone case in the box if you feel that the smartphone needs a little extra protection.

This is not the first time that OnePlus uses a glass panel on the device, OnePlus X was no less than a premium design, but this is the company’s first “flagship” phone that received such a wrapper.

OnePlus claims that the company managed to improve the water resistance of OnePlus 6 in comparison with its predecessors, but the phone does not have an IP rating to ensure its survival in conditions of full immersion in water.

Rather, OnePlus says it offers everyday protection from the most likely scenarios, such as falling into a shower or accidentally dropping your smartphone into the water, after which you will immediately get it. Dive the phone only at your own peril and risk.

Measured 155.7 x 75.4 x 7.75 mm OnePlus 6 has almost the same size as the 5T. It is slightly thicker and wider, but not so high, which is impressive, given the increase in screen size.

At a weight of 177 grams, it is also heavier than 5T, which noted on the scales only 163 grams. When you hold two phones in your hands, OnePlus 6 feels a little more weighty, but not too much.

The power / lock button is on the right side, you also get the popular OnePlus switch, which allows you to easily switch between silent mode, vibration and sound.

Traditionally, the switch was to the left of the phone, but OnePlus decided to swap it with the SIM card slot on the 6th model after feedback from users who reported that the switch is hard to reach in some scenarios.

In the SIM card slot, there is room for two nanoSIM, both slots allow you to use a 4G connection, which means that you can use the maximum data rates in two separate networks.

On the back panel you will find a fingerprint scanner below the protruding block of the camera with two cameras; However, you will notice that it has become smaller in size.

Instead of the usual round shape, OnePlus opted for a smaller oval scanner. We are told that there are several reasons for this, but one of those told by OnePlus representative was that one of the team noticed that with a round scanner the camera block resembles an exclamation mark.

OnePlus claims that its fingerprint scanner can unlock the OP6 in 0.2 seconds, but this is not the only biometric technology on the phone. OnePlus 6 also has face recognition, and during the brief review of OnePlus 6 the technology seemed to us fast, but maybe a little slower than the speed of the fingerprint scanner.

In the bottom of the phone you will find another good news, as OnePlus saves the headphone jack, allowing you to connect accessories with a 3.5mm jack without the need for adapters.

There is also a lonely speaker, which is a little disappointing, since it is easy to cover with your hand when you use a smartphone in landscape orientation, so you do not get a stereo effect from two speakers.

What’s new with OnePlus 6? Choice of colors: the smartphone offers just three options available at the time of release. This is at variance with tradition, because in the past OnePlus produced only one color, and later introduced additional shades, but the colors offered by the manufacturer will depend on the memory configuration in which you buy the smartphone.

It is still likely that in the future we will see how the OnePlus 6 gets new colors, but from the very beginning it will be available in Mirror Black and Midnight Black with a limited edition of Silk White, which will appear soon.

The Mirror Black model went to us for a review of the OnePlus 6 and boasts a polished and very shiny back panel that also becomes a fingerprint magnet and is the only color for the entry-level OnePlus 6 64GB / 6GB model.

OnePlus 6 Midnight Black has a more matte finish thanks to the layer under the glass, perforated by thousands of holes to create extra depth. This is the only color option for the 8 GB / 256 GB configuration, the flagship level.

The phone version 8/128 GB is available in black and in a new version of Silk White. This is another color, underlined by Gorilla Glass 5 on the rear panel, thanks to the “powder pearl” as the primary color, which gives the device a ceramic look.

DISPLAY

The OnePlus 6 screen is one of the biggest features of the new smartphone. In fact, this is the largest display that the manufacturer has ever installed on the phone, the 6.28-inch Full Optic AMOLED panel easily outshines the 6.1-inch 5T display.

OnePlus continues to support the popular 19: 9 aspect ratio, giving you a higher display that offers an additional screen area when you scroll through lists, including the Twitter channel.

And while the display can be larger, the resolution remains unchanged with respect to the “simple” Full HD. It’s 2280 x 1080 pixels to be precise, which guarantees a density of 402 pixels per inch of the previous OnePlus flagships.

Nevertheless, in a world where QHD is rapidly becoming the norm for the flagships of the market, the OnePlus 6 screen resolution becomes a key area where the manufacturer cuts corners, diligently cutting costs.

With the decrease of the faceplates above and below the screen, OnePlus 6 boasts a screen-to-body ratio of 84%, which is likely to appeal to fans of pure functionality. However, you will have to pay for this decision by turning on the notch at the top of the screen.

The recess is smaller than on the iPhone X, but more cut out for the camera on the Essential Phone, the dimensions are very similar to the implementation of the same solution in the Huawei P20 .

OnePlus claims that the notch is not included on the principle of “Me too!”. A representative of the company explained that “OnePlus fully appreciates the tendency to reduce the rim of the screen and increase the ratio of the screen to the chassis. We have been thinking about this decision for a long time [the inclusion of the notch]. ”

“We want to deliver the technology that currently works best, and we need to be confident in the technologies that we implement on our devices, since we only release one phone at a time.”

“The notch is the best solution at the moment. In the end, it’s not about her, it’s about the screen. ”

Regardless of whether you approve or cuss you this trend, the cutout serves a useful purpose on the OnePlus 6, it is here that the front camera, microphone, LED indicator and light sensor are located.

For those who do not really like this technology, OnePlus 6 allows you to “hide” the cutout, covering it with black panels to create a single continuous band, although the function that allows you to do this will come with software updates after the release.

The choice is yours, but there is something quite pleasant in that you can bypass the visual solution.

Take the OnePlus 6 out of the box and you’ll see that it comes with a factory-installed screen protector, a useful option that nevertheless slightly detracts from the overall look of the phone, and also collects dust and fingerprints.

You can simply remove it, which will make the OnePlus 6 much more attractive, but this solution also expose the display to possible scratches, so do not rush to tear off the protector as soon as you pull it out of the box.

ONEPLUS 6: CAMERA

At first glance, the main OnePlus 6 cameras do not look the same as on the back panel of OnePlus 5T, they are 16 and 20 megapixel sensors – still, sensors manufactured by Sony with aperture f / 1.7, but not all the same.

OnePlus increases the size of the sensor of the main 16-megapixel camera by 19%, now it has a pixel size of 1.22 microns (from 1.12 microns), which allows the sensor to receive more light and, thus, it is better to work in poor light conditions.

This is not all, because of OnePlus 6 implements OIS (optical image stabilization) for both sensors, thereby improving photos in poor light conditions and reducing camera shake with subsequent blurring.

Neither the OnePlus 5 nor the 5T had the function of optical image stabilization on the main cameras located in the upper corner of the phone, because there was not enough space for the stabilizer, but the OnePlus 6 shifts the cameras to the middle-the thickest part of the phone-so there’s room here.

The front camera also receives a pulse with a 16-megapixel sensor, capable of making portrait shots in Portrait mode (the function will be enabled with the software update after the phone is launched).

Instead of using depth detection technology, as with the main cameras, the front portrait mode of OnePlus 6 will determine what needs to be blurred by the software. This means that you still get excellent portrait shots of the main cameras, because two cameras can collect much more accurate depth data.

An important feature for the OnePlus smartphones, which debuted with OnePlus 6, is slow video recording, with the phone capable of recording video at a rate of 480 frames per second.

This is not quite what we saw with the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Sony Xperia XZ2, but it’s a nice addition to the phone, which is substantially cheaper than any of the competitors.

The video recorded at a resolution of 480 frames per second is taken at a resolution of 720p, but you can switch to 240 frames per second with a resolution of 1080p, although your slow videos will not be so slow. The uniqueness of OnePlus 6 in this respect lies in the fact that it can capture the full minute of the slowed-down video, which is about six minutes of video with standard playback.

After shooting, you can choose which part of your video should be slowed down – this does not take a full minute – you can return the speed before and after the site that you need in Slo-Mo mode.

In the hands-on review of OnePlus 6, we did not have the time to thoroughly work with video editing, so expect a full review of OnePlus 6.

ONEPLUS 6: PERFORMANCE | INTERFACE

The advertising signature of OnePlus 6 reads “The speed you need”, and the Snapdragon 845 chipset is responsible for achieving these speeds so that everything works smoothly.

OnePlus claims that the company worked hard to avoid performance failures, optimizing the processor and graphics processor Adreno 630 by 30%, while the power consumption is reduced by 30%.

This work, which promises OnePlus, will allow the new flagship to work just as well today as in a year, but we will come back to confirm or deny this statement in a year.

Another way OnePlus cut costs on OnePlus 6 is to exclude a slot for memory cards. This is nothing new since there has never been a OnePlus phone with support for microSD cards, the company also claims that microSD cards can slow down the phone.

For most users, the 128 GB model will be more than enough, while for active users there is now an option for 256 GB, when you need more space.

Nevertheless, there will always be those who will be disappointed by the lack of flexibility and freedom OnePlus 6.

On the screen you will meet Android 8.1 – the latest software from Google – with the Oxygen OS interface from OnsPlus over the operating system. In general, Oxygen OS is very similar to pure Android and offers a familiar experience.

However, go to the settings menu, where you will find a number of additional settings that are not available in the original OS.

OnePlus 6 inherits the gesture-driven navigation that debuted on the OnePlus 5 and 5T, eliminating the need for a visible navigation bar, instead relying on managing gestures.

This solution is similar to Apple’s gestures in the iPhone X – although the OnePlus gestures are slightly different – and this helps to leave more screen space to applications. However, this function is not enabled by default, so you will need to enable it in the settings.

OnePlus also updates its gaming mode for OnePlus 6 (formerly called Gaming DnD), it interrupts notifications that interfere with your gameplay and also optimizes performance to reduce latency.

You can also block the brightness of the screen and reduce the network activity of other applications to ensure optimal playback conditions at any time, while the dedicated battery saving mode will allow you to play longer, especially on the Unity Engine.

For those of you who want to use the latest software, there’s good news, because OnePlus 6 is compatible with Android P Beta, which allows you to test new software before its official release by Google later this year.

Be careful: Android P Beta is not the ultimate software and therefore contains a number of bugs that can seriously affect the performance of OnePlus 6, so install the update at your own risk.

Face ID

There is information that we will see in OnePlus 6 face recognition technology, as in the iPhone X. Information that appeared on the network indicates that it will function in the same way as the face recognition system in the iPhone X (front 3D module camera, uses infrared light to measure depth).

OnePlus 5T used its own system – Face Unlock, it works faster than Apple’s Face ID, but OnePlus representatives admit that their system is less secure for mobile payments and it can only be used to quickly unlock a smartphone. Nevertheless, OnePlus promised to improve Face Unlock. Apparently, the main step to improve is the use of 3D-facial recognition technology used on the iPhone X.

Gesture Support

04/06/18 On the Italian Facebook page, OnePlus released a new teaser with a short video that shows that gestures on the smartphone will be supported on the display.

OnePlus 5T received gesture support with the upgrade to Android Oreo in the Open Beta 3 version. And the new teaser, which has the slogan “acceleration with gestures,” hints that in the OnePlus 6 the support for full-screen gestures will already be out of the box.

ONEPLUS 6: BATTERY

OnePlus 6 comes with a 3300 mAh battery, the same size as the OnePlus 5 and 5T batteries.

As the screen increases, more power is required, but OnePlus claims it is 10% more efficient than its predecessor, which means that you can count on OnePlus 6 to provide the same battery life for the predecessor phones.

In the real world, we expect that the smartphone will last a full day on one charge, you will have to charge the smartphone at night so that it will work all the next day.

While the OnePlus 6 has a glass case, it does not support wireless charging. One of the advantages of glass enclosures is that they make wireless charging possible (excess metal interferes with the electric field) and, while it was impossible with the metal cases of the previous OnePlus, it’s unfortunate that we did not see the technology realized here.

As with the screen resolution, the reason for the lack of wireless charging technology is probably taken in the interest of reducing the price. What you get with OnePlus 6 is Dash Charge, your own fast charging technology.

You get a Dash Charge charger that can replenish OnePlus 6 from 0% to 60% in just 30 minutes. OnePlus says it will provide a “half-hour of work”, although relying on the experience with the OnePlus 5 and 5T, we can not help but note that the average day of the phone requires over 80% of the battery.

Nevertheless, charging is pretty fast, but we will thoroughly test the technology during our in-depth review.

OnePlus 6 – release date and price

Now that we fully know all the features and capabilities of the smartphone, let’s figure it out with its price. As it turned out, the device in China and the rest of the world will cost differently, while in the Middle Kingdom it received a smaller price tag. In the US, OnePlus 6 will cost:

Version 6/64 GB (black gloss) – from 529 dollars;

Version 8/128 GB (black gloss) – from $ 579;

Version 8/128 GB (matte black) – from $ 579;

Version 8/256 GB (matte black) – from 629 dollars;

Version 8/128 GB (matte white) – from 579 dollars.

In China, prices are not much lower, but still, from 26 to 13 evergreen, there will be saved. That’s what a flagship will cost in his homeland:

Version 6/64 GB (black gloss) – from $ 503;

Version 8/128 GB (black gloss) – from 566 dollars;

Version 8/128 GB (matte black) – from 566 dollars;

Version 8/256 GB (matte black) – from 629 dollars;

Version 8/128 GB (matte white) – from 566 dollars.

A limited series will be the device, time to the new film of the saga “Avengers”. OnePlus Avengers: Infinity War Limited Edition will receive only the maximum amount of memory – 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of a user. The smartphone will cost about 660 dollars, although previously it was attributed to a price tag of 700 green.

ONEPLUS 6: FIRST OPINION

OnePlus 6 is like the most well-designed and popular phone from the manufacturer to date, it can stand side by side with monsters such as the iPhone X, Samsung Galaxy S9, Sony Xperia XZ2 and LG G7 ThinQ, which, of course, are more expensive.

Performance is smooth, the screen is bright, the design is attractive, and the camera is impressive.

If you can ignore the screen resolution and lack of expandable memory, official IP rating, microSD slot and stereo speakers, OnePlus 6 looks like another fantastic Android flagship.

Let’s start with the pluses.

OnePlus 6 really works on the top mobile platform Qualcomm 845, which guarantees frenzied performance, which will last for several years exactly.

A huge amount of RAM (6/8 GB) and built-in (up to 256 GB).

Here is an excellent AMOLED screen, which also meets the DCI-P3 color coverage profile, which is larger than the standard sRGB. This allows you to more clearly convey the colors. However, an ordinary user may not notice the difference between DCI-P3 and sRGB.

Smartphone covers Corning Gorilla Glass 5. This is the last generation of glass. Unconditional plus.

Half an hour of charging promise a day of a performance

Latest versions of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Now the cons:

Despite the fact that the company praised the cameras, saying that shooting under conditions of poor lighting will amaze the imagination, in fact, the cameras are not as advanced as we would like. The pixels declared in the matrix are 1.22 and 1.0 microns. The logic is this: the larger the pixel width, the more incoming light it can capture, respectively, the better it will be to shoot in the dark. Now the top flagships carry pixels at 1.44 microns. Yes, even recently presented ASUS ZenFone 5 has such. Of course, we have to compare live, but I think that ASUS will skip the OnePlus 6 in the shooting.

OnePlus did not miss the opportunity to click Samsung and Huawei on the nose, indicating that their super-slow shooting is only 0.2. And OnePlus 6 has a whole minute, from which you can select a specific fragment to slow down. However, I did not hear how long this fragment was. The second point is the super slow-motion mode in OnePlus is 480 frames per second, while A-brands give 960 frames per second. 0.2 seconds at 960 frames are stretched for 6 seconds. The OnePlus version should be tested, but even on the demo clip, the function looked boring.

The difference between A-brands and aspiring Chinese manufacturers is visible in such a customary chip as water protection. For waterproof smartphones, you need to have the technology. OnePlus and could not solve this problem, so they said that there is protection from drops of water. For example, if a smartphone lies on a sink and a couple drop falls on it, then it will outlive it. However, almost any smartphone of a quality brand possesses such basic protection.

No radio, no memory card slot

It is possible, to sum up. The company introduced the device on a top-end chipset, which besides iron and a large amount of memory for the soul does not have A-brands marketing chips. Accordingly, the smartphone will be interesting primarily to fans of synthetic parrots. Of course, this is a preliminary opinion based on the presentation and it is necessary to get acquainted with the device live before giving verdicts.

The Review

oneplus 6

Review Breakdown

Syed Arslan is a senior review and News writer at 1review2day, focusing on upcoming smart devices. He previously worked for Fortune Magazine, and he has 3 years of experience. He loves testing out new gadgets and complaining about them. He is the ghost of all failed Kickstarters. Email at syedarslan@1review2day.comRead more...